Cable connecter



G. C. THOMAS, JR

finally 27 1926..

CABLE CONNEGTER Filed Jan. 22, 1924 INVENTOR Geo/*4? C. Thoma .17".

Patented July 27, 1926.

T OFFICE.

GEORGE U. THOMAS, J 1h, 01? ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMAS & BETTS 00., OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF .NEW JERSEY.

CABLE oounnc'rna.

Application filed January 22, 1924. Serial No. 687,781.

This invention relates to combination outlet boxes and cable connecters, and more particularly to connecters for use in anchoring electric cables or conduits to electric box fixtures, such as outlet boxes, switch boxes,

cable boxes, and the like.

An object of the invention is to produce an improved cable connecter of simple structure capable of being manufactured either by stamping the connecter from sheet metal or by casting it and which requires a small quantity of material. Likewise it is an object to produce a cable connecter which positively functions to rigidly fasten a cable to said box, as well as produce a cable connecter which fits standard round knock-out holes in the boxes of present-day use; and one important feature of my connecter resides in the fact that it simultaneously straddles the box wall or knock-out opening and the cable, and has means for setting up a simultaneously anchoring relation jointly with the cable and box.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred form of the invention, the construction of which may be varied or modified without departing from the scope and principle of my invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a top open view of the cable connecter shown assembled in a box securing a cable thereto; and Figure 2 shows an outside elevation thereof.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3.

Figure ti illustrates an inside elevation of two cable connecters assembled in .a box. The left-hand connecter is loosely retained in the box knock-out and shows the angular position; thereof prior to tightening up the connecter. The right-hand connecter shows the position thereof after having been tightened up to fasten the cable and connecter in the box.

Figure 5 shows a cluster view of the connecter in front, side, and bottom elevations.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and with reference to' the structure of the connecter itself asshown in Figure 5, there is illustrated a connecter of such design as may be manufactured if desired by the stamping and drawing process and resulting in the production of a connecter from sheet metal and having flat plate abutment portions. This connecter essentially comprises a substantially U-shaped device with spaced inner and outer plates or leg parts; and an outer abutment or hearing plate 7 is made substantially narrower than the diameter of the box knock-out hole H punched in the usual run of boxes B in order that the portion 7 be inserted from the inside of the box out through the knock-out and bear against the outside wall of the box. At the upper end of the abutment plate 7 there is formed an offset web or portion 8 integrally joining with a broad inner hearing or abutment plate 9 adapted to abut against. the inner wall of the box. The abutment plates 7-and 9 are parallel and offset one from the other to permit the wall of the electric fixture box wall to rest movably therebetween. An aperture or cable receiving hole 10 is punched through the composite opposite plates 7 and 9; and in fact the said hole 10 is punched through the portion 8 as well, thereby forming the portion 8 into the spaced connecting strips 8 by which the inner and outer abutment plates 7 and 9 are joined together.

The inner end of the plate 9 is bent outwardly as at 11 and downwardly to form a bushing plate 12. The plate 12 is punched and drawn to provide a bushing 14 through which cable wires W are passed, and the wires are protected from wear or abrading action by the ovaled curve swedged into the bushing 14. The lower end of the plate 12 is 4 made with a rounded surface-bearing or lifting nose 15 which acts to force the connecter radially or laterally of the axis of the box knock-out hole H as will be described. An ear 16 is turned outwardly from the plate 12 and carries a pressure screw 17. Itis observed how the connecter portion 11 spaces the abutment plates 7-9 from the plate 12, and the connecter is made in this manner in order that an adequate length of cable be inserted and gripped against the exposed box hole edge.

In assembling the parts, av connecter is first attached to the box by introducing the outer abutment plate 7 through the knockout H, and the connecter is then placed in an angular position as shown at the left in Figure 4 with the pressure screw partly screwed out from the car 16. The lifting lug or hearing nose 15 is thus disposed at an angle with the box wall B, the result of which permits the cable G to be easily in serted through the hole of the plate connectar and the knockout hole H of the box inasmuch as the hole 10 lies within the circumference of the box knock-out H.

The cable wires W are drawn through the bushing lei with the inner end of the cable C abutting the plate 12. The pressure screw 17 is now screwed downwardly against the bottom of the box wall B which causes the nose 15 to slide along the box, causing rotary as well as a radial motion of the connecter relatively to the box, bringing it into vertical position as shown at the right in Figure l.

This compound movement of the plate develops considerable force as the pressure screw 17 is being turned, the connector 'devicerotating within the box hole H as well as sliding upwardly away from the wall B. This compound radial and rotary movement brings the lower edge of the hole 10 tightly up against the cable C causing the upper a ge of plate 7 to pinch into the cable driving it up against the upper opposite edge of the box opening until the box edge H burrs into the cable wall tightly clamping it; and at the same time the edge of the connecter hole 10 burrs or embeds itself into the cable which immovably anchors the cable and box together. The outer abutment plate 7 covers the exposed portion of the box hole H below the cable. and the upper remaining area of the box hole is covered from the inside by the innerbearing plate 9 thus producing a sealed box hole.

The abutment 7 is small enough to pass through the box hole lH while the abutment 9 may to advantage be larger than the box hole. In this way one part of the connecter is outside the box wall while another part is inside. The box wall itself rests between the two spaced abutments, i. e. the box hole edge H itself rests between the spaced abutments 7 and 9. The connector portion 8 and the general plan of construction leaves a portion of the box hole edge exposed and the cable C is gripped against and between an exposed portion of the box hole edge and the upper edge of the plate 7.

l have therefore produced a connectorwhich fits into a box hole anchors itself in the hole against longitudinal displacement by reason of the abutment plates. The screw 17 mounted on the connecter forces an edge or the connecter against the cable which causes a gripping action to take place thereby fixing the cable firmly against the exposed box hole edge.

Furthermore, the screw is mounted in the connecter at an angle to the cableand box hole axis and thus impresses the neces-' sary relative lateral motion between the conmeter and box hole edge to grip the cable menace slide it laterally along the box wall which grips the cable C between the exposed box hole edge and the hole edge 10 of the connecter. At the same time the abutment plates 7 and 9 cover over the box hole H to close the box against entry of dirt and plaster incident to building operations.

It is observed that the screw may be mounted parallel to the inside and outside abutment cover plate 79 which therefore causes said screw to act against the box wall and forcibly slide the plates and particularly move the edge 10 of the connecter hole 10 relatively to the box hole edge H. In other words there is the box hole edge H and adiacent thereto is the oonnecter hole edge 10. Together these two rather sharp thin edges encircle the cable C. and the rotatable member 17 acts to forcibly produce relative approach and closing together of these two edges which thus pinches and grips the cable therebetween.

The connecter hole 10 is made through the three portions, namely the abutment plates 7 and 9 and the oil-set 8 as well. Thus the thin edged hole 10 characteristically is clearly inside the box, outside the box. and through the box hole H. all one and at the same time. and this peculiar arrangement means that two hole edges 10 and H contract and squeeze ground the cable (1 to fix it. firmly in the The connecter is positive in function, simpie to apply, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

What T claim is 1. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box with a hole. a connector to receive a cable and of such size as will fit into said box hole. said connecter including spaced abutment means in between which rests the box wall and formed to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and means mounted on the connecter and movable relative thereto substantially at right angles to the cable axis and bearing on the box wall to "force the connecter laterally relative to said box hole to grip the cable between said connecter and exposed box hole edge.

2. A device as covered in claim 1 but characterized by making the connecter and abutment means of sheet metal with a hole therein through which projects and against the edge of which lies the cable, and the abutments are flat plates which cover over the box hole around. the cable.

3. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box with a hole, a connecter to receive a cable and of such size as will fit into said box hole, said connecter including spaced abutment means in between which rests the box wall and formed to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and a screw mounted on the connecter at an angle to the axis of the cable and bearing against the box wall forcing the connecter to move laterally in relation to said box hole to grip the cable between said connecter and exposed box hole edge.

4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the connecter is made entirely of sheet metal thereby causing the abutment means to assume the form of fiat plates spaced apart, and an ear out turned from the flat plate connecter on which the screw is mounted.

5. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box with a hole, a connecter to receive a cable and of such size as will fit into said box hole, said connecter including spaced abutment means in between which rests the box wall and formed to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, a screw mounted on the connecter on one side of the cable and adapted to bear against the box wall to move the connecter in relation to the box, and a bearing nose on the connecter on the other side of the cable sliding against the box Wall forcing the co necter laterally to grip the cable between tl e connecter and exposed box hole edge.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein the connecter is fashioned from sheet metal with a cable receiving hole therein, and the edge of said connecter hole grips the cable part of the way therearound while the edge of the box hole grips the cable the other part of the way therearound.

7. A connecter including a portion of such size as will {it into a box hole. said connecter including spaced abutments adapted to receive a box hole edge thcrebetwee'n and formed to expose a portion of said box hole edge, and means mounted on the connecter and movable relative thereto substantially at right angles to the axis of a box hole and adapted to bear against a box.

8. A connecter including a portion of such siz as will fit into a box hole, said connecter including spaced abutments adapted to receive a box hole edge therebetween and formed to expose a portion of said box hole edge, and a screw mounted on the connecter at right angles to the axis of a box hole and adapted to screw against the Wall of a boxto move the connecter laterally in relation to the box hole.

9. A connecter as defined in claim 8, but stamped from sheet metal, thereby forming said abutments into flat plates, which plates overlie and cover the box hole around a cable.

10. A connecter including a portion oi. such size as will fit 'into a box hole, said connecter including abutments spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of a box wall and formed to expose the edge oi a box hole and including a cable receiving hole, a screw mounted on the connecter at an angle to the cable opening, and a bearing nose included on the connecter which cooperates with the screw to move the con necter in a box hole.

11. A connecter as defined in claim 10 but made entirely of sheet metal thus forming said abutmcnts into plate portions and forming the bearing nose of sheet metal with a rounded end to ride along a box wall surface.

12. A connecter including a portion of such size as will fit into a box hole, said connector including abutlnents spaced apart a distance equal to the thickness of a box- 'all and l'ornied to expose the edge of a box hole and including a cable receiving hole, a screw mounted in the connecter to one side of the cable receiving hole so the screw is easily reached, and a bearing nose included on the connecter on the other side of cable receiving hole.

13. A connecter as defined in claim 10 but made entirely of sheet metal which tor-ms said abutments into spaced plates,

and one of which is too large to pass through a box hole.

14. A connecter as defined in claim 10 but made entirely of sheet metal which forms said abutinents into spaced plates, one of which is too large to pass through a box hole, and a bushing punched in a plate portion included on the connecter and held in spaced relation from one of the abutment plates by an integral part parallel to the. axis of the cable receiving hole.

15. A connecter embodying two parallel plates fashioned from a single stamping and substantially U-shaped in side elevation, one of the plates small enough to pass through a box hole and having an off-set which forms otit two spaced abutment plates themselves parallel in between which fits a box wall with the usual cable hole, the off-set portion having a cable hole, and a screw mounted on the other plate parallel to the abutment plates.

16. A connecter as defined in claim 15 wherein a bushing is formed in the plate carrying the screw. I

17. A connecter embodying two parallel plates fashioned from a single stamping and substantially Ushapcd in side elevation, one of the plates small enough to pass Evi through a box hole and having an oft-set portion which, forms of it two spaced abut ment plates themselves parallel in between. which fits a box wall with the usual cable hole, a cable hole in the oil-set portion, a bearing nose included on one end at one corner of one plate, a screw mounted parallel to said abutment plates on the same plate at the other corner thereof which spaces it from the bearing nose, and said last named plate including a wire opening? disposed substantially between the bearing nose and screw.

18. A connect-er comprising a plate with an oil-set portion which fashions the plate into two parallel abutment portions spaced apart about equal in distance to the thickness of a box wall, said plate having a cable receiving hole formed with portions thereof in the oil-set and in the two spaced abutment plates, said plate being formed to fit into. a box hole with the cable receiving hole registering with the box hole and with the two spaced off-set abutments disposed on either side of the box wall, and means to forcibly move the plate laterally in relation to the box hole.

19. A connector as defined in claim 18 wherein one of the parallel abutment portions is too large to pass through a box hole.

20. A connecter comprising a plate having an oil-set forming parallel portions spaced apart a distance about equal to the thickness of a box wall, one portion formed small enough to pass through a box hole, and one portion of the plate adapted to be disposed inside of and parallel to a box wall and the other portion outside of and parallel to box wall, said plate having a cable receiving opening extending into that portion which is inside a box, which opening is adapted to register with a box hole, said cable receivingopening being partly defined by an edge on the outside portion to support a cable received through the connector. and a screw threaded thru the connecter adapted to bear against a portion of a box to move the connector to grip a cable between the box hole edge and that edge of said cable receiving opening which is defined aforesaid on theoutside portion.

21. A cable connector comprising a mem her, a portion of which is suitable in size to fit thru a box hole and formed to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to a cable, said portion being adapted to support and bear against that side of a cable which is opposite the exposed box hole edge, and said connector and portion having spaced means, by which the connector is guided and retained in a box hole, while said means move in relation to said box'hole edge, and a screw mounted on that portion of the connecter which is adapted to be placed inside a box and also mounted on the same side of the morass connecter which includes the aforesaid portion. adapted to support and bear on the cabio, and said screw being adapted to produce a reaction between the connecter and box to cause movement of the connecter laterally relative to the box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and said portion. v

22. A connecter comprising, a portion suitable in size to fit into a box hole and formed to expose aportion of a box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the connecter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said spaced means move in relation to said box hole edge, and a screw mounted on the connector at an angle to the connector and cable axis and adapted to react against a box portion to move the connector laterally relative to a box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

23. A connecter comprising, a portion suitable in size to fit into a box hole and formed toexpose a portion of a box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the connecter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said spaced means move in relation to said box hole edge, a bearing nose included on the connecter and having a rounded hearing surface which slidably engages a box portion, and a screw mounted on the connecter adapted to react against the box portion to cause the bearing nose to slide and thereby move the connecter laterally relative to a box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connector.

24. A. connector comprising, a portion suitable in size to fit into a box hole and formed to expose a portion of a box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the connecter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said spaced means move in relation to said box hole edge, and a screw mounted on that connector portion which is adapted to be placed inside of a box and adapted to react against an inside box portion to move the connector laterally relative to a box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter. I

25. A, connector comprising, a portion suitable in size to fit into abox hole and formed to expose a portion of a box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and includin spaced means, bywhich the connector is guided and retained in a box hole, while said spaced means move in relation to said bOXt hole edge, abearing' nose included on the con-f nectar and having a rounded bearing surface which slidably engages a box portion, and a screw mounted on that connecter portion which is adapted to be placed inside of a box and adapted to react against the inside EEO box portion to cause the bearing nose to slide and thereby move the connecter laterally relative to a box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

26. A connecter comprising, a portion suitable in size to fit into a box hole and formed to expose a portion of a box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the conmeter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said spaced means move in relation to box hole'edge, a bearing nose included on the connecter and having a rounded bearing surface which slidably engages a box portion, an ear included on the connecter and spaced from the bearing nose, and a screw threaded thru the ear adapted to react against the box portion to cause the bearing nose to slideand move the connecter laterally relative to the box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

27. A connecter comprising a member, a portion of which is suitable in size to fit thru a box hole and so formed as to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the connecter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said means moves in relation to said box hole edge, a screw threaded into the connecter adapted to produce a reaction between the connecter and the box to impart one motion to the connecter, and means included on the connecter which slides, by operation of the screw aforesaid, in relation to and in engagement with a box portion to impart another motion to the connecter to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

28. A connecter comprising a member, a portion of which is suitable in size to fit thru a box hole and so formed as to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to. a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the connecter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said means moves in relation to said box hole edge, operating means carried on the connecter adapted to roduce reaction between the connecter and Box which rotates the connecter, and means included on the connecter which slides, by action of the aforesaid operating means, in relation to and in engagement with a box portion to impart lateral motion to the connecter with respect to the axis of the box hole to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

29. A connecter comprising a member, a portion of which is suitable in size to fit thru a box hole and so formed as to expose a portion of said box hole edge directly to a cable placed therein, and including spaced means, by which the connecter is guided and retained in a box hole, while said means moves in relation to said box hole edge, a prQ ecting member included on the connecter and having a curved engaging surface adapted to slide against a box portion, and a screw threaded thru the connecter the end of which screw is adapted to react against a box portion to impart sliding movement to the projecting member relative to the box, which results in forcibly moving a cable laterally relative to and against an exposed box hole edge and gripping it there.

30. A cable connecter comprising a member of suitable size to fit into a box hole and so formed as to expose said hole edge directly to a cable received therein, spaced abutments included on the connecter by which both sides of a box wall are engaged by the connecter when it is in place, a screw threaded thru and carried on the connecter and adapted to produce a reaction between the box and connecter by which the connecter abutments are held rigidly in place on both sides of a. box wall andto simultaneously force a cable against the exposed box hole edge, and said screw being carried on that connecter portion which is adapted to be placed inside of the box.

31. A cable connecter comprising a member of suitable size to fit into a box hole and so formed as to expose said hole edge directly to a cable received therein, spaced abutments included on the connector by which both GEORGE C. THOMA JR. 

